May God Redeem Our Homes for His Glory

We Were Made to Crave

This past week we vacationed near the Smoky Mountains while my oldest daughter spent time at a Christian Writer’s Retreat in honor of her upcoming graduation. Y’all, my kids loved it. The second we pulled into Pigeon Forge they were squealing with glee over all of the sights and sounds.

I’ve always really enjoyed the Smokies, but this time was a little different. We kicked off our trip by visiting The Island. I had promised that we would ride the ginormous ferris wheel. We had a good time, but guys, the atmosphere was loud and crazy. We had to dodge past Dick’s Last Resort and everything else was total sensory overload. I was so ready to leave after just a few minutes! The cigarette smoke around that place was outrageous, and boy was it noisy.

Recognizing Blasphemy for What It Was

Once we left, I had to take a step back for a moment. My first reaction was to judge all of those around us, but no. How would that be right? My Father has been so kind to forgive me of an abundance of sins, and He was showing patience and long suffering to everyone in that place at that very moment. And yet, my spirit was grieved. This is kind of funny, but when we left Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars was playing with the dancing fountain and I had to get out of there. The lyrics are kind of rough, but the lights, water, and sounds were fun. Yep, they were fun. Then I heard, “Girls hit your hallelujah.” Hallelujah means “Praise God” or “Praise Yah.” I couldn’t believe that I had been enjoying this. This was blasphemy.

Y’all, our senses will deceive us. They so easily pull us where we don’t need to be. The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes are a real thing, and these lusts aren’t limited to full on fornication. So many man-made enjoyments will pull us away from where we are to find our fulfillment. We are to be fulfilled by the One True God, and no where else.

Our Senses Will Trick Us

I think we are so easily tricked and deceived. I know I am! For example, Uptown Funk is a popular song and I’ve heard it a lot while out and about. But for the first time I asked for the Spirit’s discernment. When I heard “Girls hit your hallelujah,” something clicked in my mind that said leave. I was kind of confused, but I said, “Hey guys, let’s go.” And we left.

How often has that small still voice spoken to me and I haven’t listened? Too often, I’m afraid. Ladies, I fear that we are easily deceived. We are pulled into things by our senses that we assume are harmless, but they are not. We were made to crave the things of God, but sin clouds our vision.

I used to think that so many things in this world fell within neutral territory, but I really don’t think this is true any more. My prayer now is, LORD give me eyes to see! We need discernment to understand what is true and what is not. What is godly and what is not.

Craving Him Alone

We enjoyed the rest of our week, but my ears and eyes were on alert. I’ve realized that true peace and joy only comes from God, and from the things that were made by Him. More joy was found while visiting the National Park than when driving through the over-built strip. He has given us everything we need, but we still try to improve upon it in our brokenness. His beauty is immeasurable. And yet we still flock to loud music, flashing lights, and shopping sprees. How can this be? Our souls do have a void, but we are filling it in the wrong way. We were made to crave Him!

My hope is that we will seek to find the One whom our spirits were made to crave. At first it probably will feel strange to reject worldly things. But He alone is worth all honor and power and glory.

Follow Redeeming Home via Email

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.